Dream boat

On our way to Northern Ireland, our ferry docked at Dublin, so we'd decided to spend a couple of days. 

We last were here over 25 years ago. 

I remember the excellent range of public sculpture, all with nicknames. For instance, a very decollete statue of Molly Malone was known as the dolly with the trolley. 

I remember it rained so much our map dissolved into paper mache.

But most of all, I recall a little golden boat with spindly oars and rudder, glowing in the depths of the Archaeology Museum.

I have retained none of the facts about it. 

Date? Provenance? Function?

Yet every so often, through my dreams has sailed that little golden boat.

Usually when we re-visit a place, I want to see the attractions we missed the first time.  But in Dublin, I wanted most to revisit the little golden boat. 

It was a large museum and I was impatient, so on arrival, I asked a custodian for 'the little golden boat' and she marched me straight there.

'Ohhh. Hello again.'

There it was, luminous in its case.

So now I know it is part of the Broighter horde, dating from the first century BC and that it was found in County Derry. I noticed this time that it is surrounded by other pieces of gold from the horde including a magnificent torc.

But also I know that ten years from now I will have forgotten the name and date and other contents of the horde.

Yet the golden boat will still be meandering through my imagination.